Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

The fundamental objective of the CAMRA Mellon Fellowship Program is to increase the national pipeline of undergraduate students who complete Ph.D. programs in core fields that engage with both the theoretical and practical underpinnings of multimedia research, interrogating the politics of representation and power at play in visual scholarship and media, as well as harnessing the potential of visual methods to democratize the production of knowledge in academic spaces. Through a three-year pipeline, the program aims to increase the presence of individuals from underrepresented groups pursuing Ph.D. programs on college and university faculties, as well as to address the attendant educational consequences of these disparities.
 
The CAMRA Mellon Fellowship Program is open to students with a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities with media including students who, though not from traditionally underrepresented groups, have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to the goals of the program. CAMRA Mellon applicants must be highly motivated towards gaining a Ph.D. and teaching at the university level.
 
The CAMRA Mellon Fellowship Program provides undergraduate students with graduate school application and persistence supports and the opportunity to explore and engage multimedia forms including filmmaking and photography for their own research projects with the support and guidance of program scholars and mentors. Ideally, during the first year the Fellows will assist their Mentors on a media-based project. Then, during the second year the Fellows will complete their own media-based project (e.g., documentary film, photo essay, podcast, installation). Preference will be given to projects that focus on social justice themes. The project can be for a course requirement, an independent project, or a senior thesis. During the third year of the pipeline, the program will continue to support participants through their first year in graduate school.

Eligibility and Qualifications: 

• This program is open to all rising juniors at the University of Pennsylvania- undergraduate students presently matriculated in the second (spring) semester of their sophomore year when applying.  Applicants from Howard University are also encouraged to apply, as there will be the opportunity for off-site directed work during the academic year with intermittent visits to the Penn campus 
• We strongly encourage students from groups traditionally underrepresented at the graduate level
• First-generation college students with demonstrated high financial need are also encouraged to apply
• Students must show interest in an individual media-based project, but need not have prior formal training in visual methods
• The program is designed to encourage fellows to enter Ph.D. programs that prepare students for professorial careers

Each CAMRA Mellon Fellow will become part of the CAMRA community and will be expected to: 

• Participate in the three-year pipeline program (the final two years of undergraduate and the first year of graduate school)
• Attend a retreat/training weekend in the fall
• Work with CAMRA Mellon mentors on their projects and on their preparation for graduate school
• Enroll in CAMRA Mellon Fellows course, seminar and workshop offerings in-person or online
• Participate in/attend the Screening Scholarship Media Festival on UPenn’s campus in the spring
• Present their final media projects at the CAMRA Mellon Fellows Showcase event 

As part of this Fellowship, participants will receive the following:

• Training on the production of film/video/audio media in academic contexts
• Mentorship from current doctoral students using media as part of their research
• Classes and workshops with media makers and scholars
• Access to a camera and editing software during the course of the fellowship
• An award of $3,000 disbursed over the fellowship

Additionally, Fellows will receive program support for:

• Research opportunities
• Access to archives or research sites
• Workshop, festival or conference fees
• Purchase of books or scholarly materials
• Preparation for graduate school applications
• Graduate school application fees

For more information on the fellowship and application instructions, visit the CAMRA Fellows page.